Apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by an athlete

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by an athlete comprising an elongated hollow tube formed of a flexible material, the tube having closed ends and a hollow interior along its length; a pair of straps secured to and extending outwardly from the free ends with fasteners at the outboard ends of the straps for coupling therebetween and effecting the creation of a loop of the straps and tube; a flexible, plastic straw having an inboard end in fluid communication with the interior of the tube and having an outboard end with a mouthpiece secured with respect thereto, clips secured to the exterior surface of the tube for removably receiving the straw to hold it in position adjacent to the tube; and an aperture on an upper surface of the tube with a filler plug removably received thereover to allow filling of the interior of the tube with a liquid to be consumed through the straw.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus for storing and dispensingfluids for use by an athlete and more particularly pertains to storing aquantity of fluid for use on the person of an athlete and for dispensingsuch fluid as needed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of devices of a large number of designs and configurations forstoring liquid for one purpose or another is known in the prior art.More specifically, devices of a large number of designs andconfigurations for storing liquid for one purpose or another heretoforedevised and utilized for the purpose of storing liquids and dispensingit through devices of various configurations are known to consistbasically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations,notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded priorart which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectivesand requirements.

By way of example, the prior art discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,354 toCohanfard a beverage-container and sipping assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,705 to Lynd discloses a bottle and drinking tubeassembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,927 to Hanzlik discloses a jogger's hand weight andwater bottle for drinking.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 287,061 to Bound discloses the design of a combinedhelmet and beverage container supports.

In this respect, the apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for useby an athlete according to the present invention substantially departsfrom the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and indoing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose ofstoring a quantity of fluid for use on the person of an athlete and fordispensing such fluid as needed.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need fornew and improved apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use byan athlete which can be used for storing a quantity of fluid for use onthe person of an athlete and for dispensing such fluid as needed. Inthis regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofdevices of a large number of designs and configurations for storingliquid for one purpose or another now present in the prior art, thepresent invention provides an improved apparatus for storing anddispensing fluids for use by an athlete. As such, the general purpose ofthe present invention, which will be described subsequently in greaterdetail, is to provide a new and improved apparatus for storing anddispensing fluids for use by an athlete and method which has all theadvantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a new andimproved apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by anathlete comprising, in combination, an elongated hollow tube formed of aflexible, plastic material, the tube having closed ends and a hollowinterior along its length; a pair of straps secured to and extendingoutwardly from the free ends with pile type fasteners at the outboardends of the straps for coupling therebetween and effecting the creationof a loop of the straps and tube; a pair of vertical straps eachextending upwardly from an interior surface of the tube at diametricallyopposed locations with pile type fasteners secured to the upper endsthereof for removable coupling therebetween during the positioning ofthe device as on the helmet of an athlete; a flexible, plastic strawhaving an inboard end in fluid communication with the interior of thetube and having an outboard end with a plastic mouthpiece removablysecured with respect thereto, clips secured to the exterior surface ofthe tube for removably receiving the straw to hold it in positionadjacent to the tube; an on/off valve positioned at an intermediatelocation of the straw for sealing the straw to preclude removal ofliquid from interior of the tube to and through the mouthpiece; and anaperture on an upper surface of the tube with a filler plug removablyreceived thereover to allow filling of the interior of the tube with aliquid to be consumed through the straw, the filler cap including a plugwith an outwardly extending radial projection adapted to be receivedwithin a mating annular recess associated with the aperture of the plug.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent of legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by anathlete which have all the advantages of the prior art devices of alarge number of designs and configurations for storing liquid for onepurpose or another and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by anathlete which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by anathlete which are of durable and reliable constructions.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by anathlete which are susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regardto both materials and labor, and which accordingly are then susceptibleof low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making suchapparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by an athleteeconomically available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newand improved apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by anathlete which provide in the apparatuses and methods of the prior artsome of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some ofthe disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to store a quantity offluid for use on the person of an athlete and for dispensing such fluidas needed.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new andimproved apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by anathlete comprising an elongated hollow tube formed of a flexiblematerial, the tube having closed ends and a hollow interior along itslength; a pair of straps secured to and extending outwardly from thefree ends with fasteners at the outboard ends of the straps for couplingtherebetween and effecting the creation of a loop of the straps andtube; a flexible, plastic straw having an inboard end in fluidcommunication with the interior of the tube and having an outboard endwith a mouthpiece secured with respect thereto, clips secured to theexterior surface of the tube for removably receiving the straw to holdit in position adjacent to the tube; and an aperture on an upper surfaceof the tube with a filler plug removably received thereover to allowfilling of the interior of the tube with a liquid to be consumed throughthe straw.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of theapparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by an athleteconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the length of the deviceshown in the prior Figures.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, of theclip illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the end of the flexible straw,partly in section, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the variousFigures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof,the preferred embodiment of the new and improved apparatus for storingand dispensing fluids for use by an athlete embodying the principles andconcepts of the present invention and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

The present invention, the new and improved apparatus for storing anddispensing fluids for use by an athlete is comprised of a plurality ofcomponent elements. Such component elements in their broadest context,include hollow tube, a pair of straps, vertical straps, plastic straw,valve and aperture. Such components are individually configured andcorrelated with respect to each other so as to attain the desiredobjectives.

The central component of the system 10 of the present invention is anelongated hollow tube 12. Such tube is formed of a fluid imperviousmaterial, a flexible plastic material is preferred. The tube has closedends 14. It also has a hollow interior 16 along its length between theclosed end.

Secured to and extending outwardly from the free ends of the tube are apair of straps 20. The straps are formed with pile type fasteners 22 atthe free ends at the outboard ends of the strap. Such fasteners are forcoupling one to another. When coupled they will effect the creation of aloop of the strap and the tube. Note FIG. 1.

Next provided are a pair of vertical straps 26. Each such strap extendsupwardly from an interior surface 28 of the tube at diametricallyopposed locations. Fasteners 30, preferably of the pile type, aresecured to the upper ends of such vertical straps. Such fasteners arefor removable coupling therebetween during operation and use at whichtime they are positioned on the device such as the helmet worn by anathlete.

The next component of the system is a flexible, plastic straw 34. Suchstraw again is preferably fabricated of a liquid impervious material.The straw has an inboard end 36. The inboard end is in fluidcommunication with the interior of the tube. The straw also has anoutboard end 38. Located on the outboard is a mouthpiece 40, preferablyof a plastic material, with an opening 42 therethrough. The mouthpieceis removably secured with respect to the outboard end of the straw. Itis removably received at such location to hold it in position adjacentto the tube.

The next component of the system is an on/off valve 46. Such valve ispositioned at an intermediate location along the length of the straw.The valve functions for sealing the straw for preclude removal of liquidfrom interior of the tube. When the ends 48 of the valve are separatedby the user, it will allow liquid to flow from interior of the tube andthrough the straw and through the mouthpiece for being consumed by theuser.

The last component of the system 10 is an aperture 52 on the uppersurface of the tube at an intermediate location. The aperture includes afiller plug 54. Such plug is removably received over the aperture toallow filling of the interior of the tube with a liquid to be consumedthrough the straw. The filler cap includes a plug 56 with an outwardlyextending radial projection 58. Such projection is adapted to besealingly received within a mating annular recess 60. The recess isformed in the interior surface of the aperture of the plug.

The present invention holds about two glasses of water, readilyavailable for sipping through a straw. It is designed for use byathletes and sports minded people, with great care taken in the designto ensure that it offers a minimum of inconvenience during activities.Best results are obtained when it is attached to a cap or helmet. Itspresence is unnoticeable because the total weight, including the water,is very small. However, to a parched bicyclist, the water is oftenenough to carry them through the torturous conditions imposed by hills,distance, temperatures, and competition.

The water is stored in a pack which resembles a headband, being onlyabout 2 inches wide and 8 inches long, with straps that project out for5 inches on each end. Straps also extend up to pass over the top to fitover the skull. The straps can be fastened directly onto a hat orhelmet, and are constructed of a durable VELCRO for easy attachment. Theouter surface of the pack is also covered with plastic which will adhereto most materials to keep it from sagging during the activities.

A very convenient feature of the present invention is the provision fora drinking straw which fits into an opening into the water chamber. Thestraw can extend down along the side so it can be thrust into the mouthwhenever a sip is needed. A tiny shutoff valve is available to controlthe flow. All components are made of plastic, so the unit is easy toclean and will not mildew.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, thesame should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, nofurther discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will beprovided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by LETTERSPATENT of the United States is as follows:
 1. A new and improvedapparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by an athletecomprising, in combination:an elongated hollow tube formed of aflexible, plastic material, the tube having closed ends and a hollowinterior along its length; a pair of straps secured to and extendingoutwardly from the free ends with pile type fasteners at the outboardends of the straps for coupling therebetween and effecting the creationof a loop of the straps and tube; a pair of vertical straps eachextending upwardly from an interior surface of the tube at diametricallyopposed locations with pile type fasteners secured to the upper endsthereof for removable coupling therebetween during the positioning ofthe device as on the helmet of an athlete; a flexible, plastic strawhaving an inboard end in fluid communication with the interior of thetube and having an outboard end with a plastic mouthpiece removablysecured with respect thereto, clips secured to the exterior surface ofthe tube for removably receiving the straw to hold it in positionadjacent to the tube; an on/off valve positioned at an intermediatelocation of the straw for sealing the straw to preclude removal ofliquid from interior of the tube to and through the mouthpiece; and anaperture on an upper surface of the tube with a filler plug removablyreceived thereover to allow filling of the interior of the tube with aliquid to be consumed through the straw, the filler cap including a plugwith an outwardly extending radial projection adapted to be receivedwithin a mating annular recess associated with the aperture of the plug.2. An apparatus for storing and dispensing fluids for use by an athletecomprising:an elongated hollow tube formed of a flexible materials, thetube having closed ends and a hollow interior along its length; a pairof straps secured to and extending outwardly from the free ends withfasteners at the outboard ends of the straps for coupling therebetweenand effecting the creation of a loop of the straps and tube; a flexible,plastic straw having an inboard end in fluid communication with theinterior of the tube and having an outboard end with a mouthpiecesecured with respect thereto, clips secured to the exterior surface ofthe tube for removably receiving the straw to hold it in positionadjacent to the tube; an aperture on an upper surface of the tube with afiller plug removably received thereover to allow filling of theinterior of the tube with a liquid to be consumed through the straw; anda pair of vertical straps each extending upwardly from an interiorsurface of the tube at diametrically opposed locations with pile typefasteners secured to the upper ends thereof for removable couplingtherebetween during the positioning of the device as on the helmet of anathlete.